Sponsor a smile

**Bek-a-Buddy – Nominasie: Megan Marie Stanton ❤️** Ek wil graag my vriendin, Megan Marie Stanton, nomineer. Ek en Megan ken mekaar al 14 jaar, en as daar een ding is wat ek oor haar kan sê, is dit dat sy een van daardie mense is wat altyd ander eerste sit. Sy is ’n ongelooflik mooi mens van binne, iemand wat sal help waar sy kan, gee wat sy het en enigiets vir iemand anders doen — sonder om ooit iets terug te verwag. Vir so lank as wat ek haar ken, het Megan met haar tande gesukkel. Haar tande is baie skeef, sy het al ’n tand of twee verloor en sy dra ook ’n plaatjie. Dit is iets waarmee sy al vir jare saamleef, nie omdat sy nie graag iets daaraan wou doen nie, maar omdat die geleentheid en finansiële vermoë eenvoudig nog nooit daar was nie. Megan het ook die afgelope twee jaar deur ’n baie moeilike tyd gegaan en was in die tronk weens omstandighede wat haar lewe op ’n baie donker plek gesit het. Maar ek wil hê mense moet weet: **Megan is nie haar foute of haar verlede nie.** Sy is steeds dieselfde mens wat ek al 14 jaar ken — iemand met ’n ongelooflike sagte hart, iemand wat omgee vir ander en wat, ten spyte van alles wat sy al moes deurmaak, steeds ’n pragtige mens is. Ek kan net dink wat dit vir haar sou beteken om weer met selfvertroue te kan glimlag, sonder om haar tande weg te steek of selfbewus te voel wanneer sy lag of met iemand praat. Vir Megan sou hierdie nie net nuwe tande wees nie. Dit sou vir haar ’n kans wees om weer in die spieël te kyk en trots te wees op die mens wat sy sien. ’n Kans om ’n moeilike hoofstuk agter haar te sit en met nuwe selfvertroue vorentoe te kyk. Ek glo regtig sy verdien daardie nuwe begin. ❤️ Daarom nomineer ek Megan met my hele hart vir **Bek-a-Buddy**. **More than a new smile. A new beginning.**

I would like to nominate myself, after years of prior drug abuse since becoming sober my teeth is the only thing that hasn't recovered. I just completed my matric to help me build a beter future for myself but I have a tough time with self confidence because of my "broken" smile. And I feel like people still judge based on what they see rather then what you can provide or do. I planned to fix it but unfortunately the dentist quoted me R38 000 which is a lot of money not everyone has laying around. Please help me find my smile again.

Jaco had implants done which costs him R77k and his teeth keeps falling out. He is very subconcious and don't want to talk to people. After covid he lost his job and is now a representative for a company that sells biltong. Since then he only works for commission and we cannot afford medical aid. His salary sometimes don't even cover our monthly expenses. All his implants are there, it is just to make it fit as it should be and he only has 6 teeth on the bottom so he must take the implants out before he can eat. It hurts throughout the day so he takes them out when he gets home. We really don't have the money to get his teeth fixed. He is 59 years old.

Good day i am 37 years old mother of 4.... Im struggling to find a job due to my teeth looking like this, it has taken my smile my social life my work life and my me life.... I dont have friends i dont leave my house to embarrassed to walk around like this... The reason why i dont do the treatment is the fact that i can not afford it the estimated qoute i got was for far over R20 000 i cant even afford one extraction my teeth are all rotten mostly broken some broke of into the gum i cant eat proper food even a simple simba chip breaks my teeth and its ruining my whole human being and that is why i took the chance to nominate myself for this campaign .. Thank you for reading my story....

Goeie dag Ek wil graag myself nomineer vir die geleentheid om my tande te laat regmaak. As kind was ek baie siek en was ek gereeld op antibiotika. Ongelukkig het dit my tande mettertyd baie beïnvloed. Ek het tans net 13 tande oor, waarvan 6 baie sleg beskadig is. Ek het ongelukkig nie die finansiële vermoë om my tande self te laat regmaak nie. Dit is iets wat my baie raak, veral omdat ek dikwels skaam voel om te glimlag of te praat. Ek is nie iemand wat baie woorde het nie, maar hierdie situasie het ’n groot invloed op my selfvertroue. Dit sal vir my ongelooflik baie beteken om my tande te kan laat herstel. Dit sal nie net my glimlag verander nie, maar ook vir my nuwe selfvertroue en hoop gee. Baie dankie dat julle my nominasie oorweeg.

From early childhood she has been struggling with her health. She has a low self asteem. So alot of antobiotics made her teeth rotten. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just before turning 5. She is 11 now and struggling with self confidence. Some of her baby teeth is still intact and rotten off. And her upper teeth has grown not in the correct position We don't have the funds to belp her getting it fixed now. Thank you for the oppertunity.

My son can't afford detal care at all. Low income. He needs fillings, extractions and braces. He has a heart of gold but always hides his smile because of the issues. It's mentally a huge issue for him and many people makes jokes about is. Very frustrating for a Mom who can't help🥹😭

For as long as I can remember, dental problems have been something my brother and I have struggled with. I have always had teeth that were prone to problems, but unfortunately my dental health became much worse when I was a young adult. I struggled with bulimia when I was younger, and the damage it caused to my teeth has stayed with me. Much of my enamel has been lost, and over the years my teeth have become extremely fragile. After having my pregnancies, the condition of my teeth seemed to deteriorate even further. I have had root canals on almost all of my teeth, as well as fillings on nearly every tooth. Because there is so little healthy tooth structure left, my teeth can break incredibly easily, sometimes without me even doing anything that should cause it. I am already missing three teeth, and I am constantly worried about what tooth might break or fail next. I also live with constant dental pain. There are days when the pain is manageable and days when it is much worse, but it has become something I have learned to live with because I simply cannot afford to have all the necessary treatment done. I worry about another tooth becoming painful, breaking or developing another problem, and it is exhausting never knowing when the next dental emergency will happen. The condition of my teeth has also had a huge impact on my confidence and my mental wellbeing. I am extremely self-conscious about my teeth. I work with people every day, which makes it especially difficult because I am constantly aware of my smile and worried about what people are thinking when they look at my teeth. I often hold back from smiling or laughing, and I am conscious of how I speak because I don’t want people to notice my teeth. I have also stopped socialising as much as I used to. I avoid going out and meeting people because I am constantly worried about what they will think of me. Something as simple as smiling for a photograph or laughing with friends can make me feel embarrassed and anxious. I know that other people may not judge me at all, but the insecurity is in my head constantly, and it has made me withdraw from people. I have reached a point where I desperately need proper dental treatment rather than continuing to repair one problem at a time. I have considered dentures, but because I have already experienced significant dental and bone loss, I am very concerned about losing even more bone and about how dentures would affect my quality of life. Unfortunately, the treatment I need is far beyond what I can afford. I am a divorced mother of two boys who are both in school, and my financial priorities have to be my children and keeping our household going. There simply isn’t enough money left over for the extensive dental treatment I need. This is not about wanting a perfect or purely cosmetic smile. I want to be free from the constant pain, protect the teeth I still have, restore my oral health and feel comfortable smiling and speaking to people again. I want to be able to go out without worrying about my teeth, laugh without covering my mouth, smile at people without feeling ashamed and have the confidence to interact with others without constantly wondering what they are thinking about me. Receiving this treatment would genuinely change my life. It would give me the opportunity to finally deal with years of dental problems properly instead of continually putting temporary solutions on teeth that are already severely damaged. I would be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to receive the dental treatment I desperately need and to finally have a healthy, functional smile that I can feel confident sharing with the world.

My teeth have become very short and are continuing to get shorter. They are becoming brittle and increasingly sensitive, and I have already lost one tooth. Although it isn't one of my very front teeth, it is still visible when I smile, and it has had a real impact on my confidence and self-esteem. Being in my 30s, I still consider myself young, and I worry about what could happen if I don't get treatment soon. I am concerned that the damage could continue, my remaining teeth could become weaker, and I could eventually face much more serious and expensive dental problems. The hardest part is that I simply cannot afford the treatment on my own. I know there are people facing much bigger challenges, and my heart truly goes out to them. But I also know that if I don't do something now, my situation could become much worse. That is why I am asking for help. Every bit of support, no matter how small, would mean so much to me. It would help me prevent further damage, and give me the confidence to smile again without worrying about my teeth.

Ons wil graag ons vriendin inskryf vir Bek ’n Buddy, omdat hierdie geleentheid vir haar ongelooflik baie sal beteken. Sy het weens ’n baie moeilike verlede in 2024 haar twee groot voortande verloor. Sedertdien is daar al menige kere probeer om die tande te herstel en te vul, maar hulle bly breek en beskadig. Sy het tans nie die finansiële vermoë om die nodige kroon of plaatjie te laat doen nie. Vir haar gaan dit nie net oor haar tande nie – dit gaan oor haar selfvertroue, haar glimlag en om weer gemaklik te voel wanneer sy lag en met mense praat. Sy probeer al lank om met die situasie saam te leef, maar dit is iets wat haar daagliks raak. Om vir haar die kans te gee om haar glimlag terug te kry, sal vir haar ’n ongelooflike nuwe begin beteken. Ons glo sy verdien die geleentheid om weer met selfvertroue te kan glimlag en nie meer skaam te voel oor iets wat sy nie self gekies het nie. Ons sal ongelooflik dankbaar wees as sy hierdie kans kan kry. ❤️

Hello, ek wil graag vir Chanelle nominees met die bek a buddy. Ek nomineer haar want ek kan sien sy sukkel verskriklik met haar tande. Sy begin al hoe minder en minder eet as gevolg van haar tande. Dit maak my hartseer om te sien dan iemand so kan sukkel dit vat haar tot en met n uur of twee om haar kos te eet en dan is dit net sekere kosse wat sy kan eet. Sy het baie baie min tande oor en daar is net 9 van haar tande wat die bietjie kos kan fyn kou. Haar tande wat sy supposed is om agter te he is oop tot op die senuwee en dit maak dat sy un soveel pyn is wanneer sy klaar geeet is. Sy sukkel om werk te kry want mense beoordeel haar oor dit en dit kraak haar so af dat sy elke keer by n onderhoud sal uit stap en huil. Sy is 20 jaar oud en ek dink dat sy die baie nodig het dis sal haar lewe heeltemal verander.

Good day, all off my friends and work poelole nominated me, but until today we didn't get any feed back, can you please help me te get a Bel a buddy page please please, I am a single mother and do not have any family left

My Bek-a-Buddy-nominasie vir Iggie ❤️ Ek wil graag vir Igna Mollentze, oftewel Iggie, nomineer. Iggie is 85 jaar oud, maar as jy haar ontmoet, sal jy vinnig besef dat ouderdom haar beslis nie terughou nie. Sy is altyd besig en vol lewe. Sy bak beskuit, kook heerlike marmelade en maak die mooiste, lekkerste lemoenstroopkoeke – wat sy selfs aan die Wildernis Spar lewer. Sy is iemand wat graag besig bly en steeds iets vir ander doen. Musiek is ook ’n baie belangrike deel van Iggie se lewe. Sy sing elke week en is elke Sondag getrou in die koor. Haar glimlag en haar stem is deel van wie sy is, en sy geniet dit om saam met ander te sing. Ongelukkig het een van haar voortande getjip. Alhoewel dit dalk vir iemand anders na iets kleins kan klink, raak dit haar selfvertroue en haar glimlag. Sy kan dit ongelukkig nie op haar huidige inkomste bekostig om die tand te laat herstel nie. Ek dink Iggie verdien hierdie geleentheid nie net omdat sy ’n tand nodig het nie, maar omdat sy op 85 steeds so baie gee, doen en bydra. Sy maak dinge met haar hande, deel haar gebak met ander, sing vir die Here en bring steeds vreugde na die mense om haar. Om haar weer met selfvertroue te laat glimlag wanneer sy sing, bak en met mense omgaan, sal vir haar baie meer beteken as net ’n mooi tand. Dit sal vir haar ’n klein stukkie ekstra selfvertroue en waardigheid gee. Ek kan aan niemand dink wat dit meer verdien as ons liewe Iggie nie. ❤️

A Mother's Nomination for My Daughter, Michyla Botha (Oelofse) It is with great love and hope that I nominate my daughter, Michyla Botha (Oelofse), for the opportunity to receive a smile makeover. From a very young age, Michyla has dreamed of having her teeth fixed. Unfortunately, both of my daughters inherited the same genetics that I did, leaving them with very short, damaged teeth. Sadly, neither of us has been in a financial position to afford the dental treatment we have always needed, and Michyla currently cannot afford medical aid. Michyla is 27 years old and the proud mother of a beautiful two-year-old little boy. Despite facing incredible challenges, she continues to put others before herself. She survived years in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship that slowly destroyed her confidence and made her feel unworthy. Through constant humiliation and emotional abuse, her self-esteem was broken down, yet somehow she never allowed her heart to become bitter. If there is one thing that defines Michyla, it is her kindness. She has the rare ability to see only the good in people, even when they have not always shown her the same kindness. She has a beautiful soul, a compassionate heart, and a genuine love for helping others. As a hairstylist in the beauty industry, Michyla spends every day making other people feel beautiful and confident. It has always touched my heart that while she dedicates herself to boosting the confidence of others, she has never had the opportunity to feel that same confidence in her own smile. A beautiful smile would mean so much more to Michyla than cosmetic improvement. It would help restore the confidence that was taken from her during some of the darkest years of her life. It would allow her to smile freely, laugh without covering her mouth, and finally see herself the way everyone else already sees her—a beautiful, caring, and remarkable young woman. As her mother, I wish I could give her this gift myself, but unfortunately I cannot even afford to fix my own teeth. That is why I am reaching out with the hope that someone else might be able to change her life in a way that I never could. When you meet Michyla, you will undoubtedly fall in love with her warm heart, gentle spirit, and genuine kindness. There is truly no one more deserving of a reason to smile with complete confidence. Thank you for taking the time to read her story and for considering my daughter for this life-changing opportunity. Kind regards, A Proud Mother

My daughter, Suerine, moved to Cape Town to complete her community service year as a radiographer. From there, she got a job in Hermanus and later in George. As she was living so far away from home, I could not see just how badly her mental health had deteriorated. Regular phone calls and eventually a visit made me realise how much she had been struggling. During this difficult time, she got engaged, but unfortunately the relationship ended because of too many lies and financial abuse. She almost lost her home. Trying to make ends meet on a single income is incredibly difficult, especially when a home loan was originally planned to be paid by two people. Suerine works long hours and demanding shifts at the hospital, always giving so much of herself to her patients. Patient care has always been one of her greatest strengths, and she has such a loving, caring heart. While battling with her mental health and going through a painful breakup, she neglected her own dental health. Unfortunately, there has simply never been any extra money available to have the necessary dental work done. She is such a beautiful young lady with the most beautiful smile, but as her mother, I have had to watch my bubbly, people-loving child slowly fade away because she has become embarrassed about her teeth. It breaks my heart to see her hide the beautiful smile that once reflected the joy in her heart. If there is any way, no matter how small, that she could be helped to restore her smile and confidence, I would be eternally grateful. I would love nothing more than to see the joy that lives in her heart shine once again on her face. Sincerely, Her loving mom, Ina

In 2018, my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. What followed was a journey I never imagined I would have to walk — countless treatments, chemotherapy, radiation, fear, uncertainty, and moments where simply getting through the day felt like an achievement. At the end of 2019, I received the news I had been praying for: I was declared in remission. But while the cancer was gone, the journey left lasting scars that aren’t always visible. The chemotherapy and radiation treatments took a toll on my mouth and teeth, and over the years I have lost many of my teeth. Something as simple as smiling became something I became conscious and ashamed of. My smile affects my confidence, my everyday life, and even the way I see myself. I have always believed that a smile makes a person's face. A smile can show happiness, confidence, warmth and life. But today, I often hide mine. I avoid smiling in photographs and sometimes find myself covering my mouth when I laugh. I do my best to look after my remaining teeth and take care of my oral health, but rebuilding my smile is something I simply cannot afford right now. I am incredibly grateful to be in remission and to still be here. I survived cancer. But now, I would love the opportunity to rebuild something that cancer and its treatment took from me — my smile and my confidence. This isn't just about having straight or beautiful teeth. It's about being able to smile freely again, laugh without embarrassment, look in the mirror and feel confident in the person looking back at me. After everything I've been through, I believe I deserve to smile again. Cancer took a lot from me, but it didn't take my hope. And I believe that one day, I'll be able to smile without hiding it.

Good day, My mother, Rachel is 58 years old. My parents have been married for 40 years, and have had 3 biological kids, have one in foster care now (he is 16 now and has been with them in foster care since 8 months old), and have raised many more throughout their lives. Unfortunately the have lost their oldest son (my biological brother) in 2021, he died on his birthday turning 34 on 2 Oct 2021. My mother has been a house wife since I can remember. She has always put her children first, even other people's children. Unfortunately my parent have never been able to afford any type of medical aid/insurance, so when and if they need medical help, they need to go through clinics and state hospitals. This year my mother has been officially been diagnosed with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and is now on chronic medication. After diagnosis, she has decided to stop smoking after an extremely long time. She is now on medication to help her to stop smoking, as she was smoking up to 60 cigarettes a day. As a result of her smoking for 30+ years, her teeth has disintegrated. It looks like her teeth are rotting from the gums, turning black, orange, brown and yellow. They have become so brittle, that pieces sometimes break off when she eats, but she just has to live with it. She cries regularly about her teeth, knowing they cannot afford to fix her teeth. She rarely leaves her house, about once every 2 weeks to visit her children. She doesn't want to go anywhere that requires her to speak to people because she feels ashamed of her teeth. It absolutely breaks my heart that I as her daughter cannot afford to help her. If I could have one wish for my mother, it would be to fix her teeth. She has done so much for many, and has given most of her life to help others. I just wish for once someone could help her, and make her feel human again. I really do hope that you would consider my mother as a nominee. I appreciate your time for reading her story!

I have several severe dental breakage of tooth at the back in my mouth, I can't eat properly. The crones need work and filling. In the front of my mouth, a tooth got a breakage that need attention. I cannot afford any dental assistance, and are willing to pay off the bill. Please have mercy on me.

I am a single mom, had my last child at the age of 41 (i am now 52) and since then my teeth just started rotting and breaking, no matter what I do to stop it nothing works. I have a acid taste in mouth. I have to remember to smile with my lips closed and try not to open my mouth to much when I speak and put my hand infront of my mouth when I laugh. I am so embarrassed, its become depressing as for no reason after I had my child my teeth just rot and break. Before that there was nothing wrong with my teeth. As a single mom I cant afford medical aid and will never be able to afford to pay cash to fix my teeth. I was recently retrenched, and I must look for a new job with these rotten broken teeth. It would be so amazing if I could be choosen to fix my teeth, it would would life changing, one less problem I would have to deal with in this life. Thank you so much.

Ita has always said to us that when she wins the Lotto her first appointment will be that of Dr. Js van Heerden will help her with her teeth to Smile a million bucks and have the confidence to be that Mom and my wife that turns a room into magic when she walks into a room and smile for the first time with her new set of teeth! She has been through so much loosing her sister at a young age due to a fatal car accident. This will make a life difference to her

One of my dearest friends, Quintin van Biljon, is an incredibly talented director, producer and MC, but most importantly, he is an amazing coach who teaches Musical Theatre and Drama to children in the George area. He is also involved with the South Cape Arts Festival, where he continues to pour so much of his time, talent and heart into the arts and the young people around him. Quintin is incredibly shy about his smile. Some of his teeth have started to decay on the sides of his mouth and it has really affected his confidence. We love him to absolute bits and would love nothing more than to see him receive the beautiful smile he deserves. He is always the person giving everyone else the world — his time, his energy, his encouragement, his talent and, most importantly, his love. ❤️ He has a way of making people feel special and supported, and he gives so much of himself to the children he teaches. What breaks my heart is seeing how self-conscious he has become. When he has to present or perform, he is often shy about smiling and has started laughing with his mouth covered. And that is such a tragedy because his laugh is one of the most beautiful and infectious things about him. I would absolutely love to nominate Quintin for help with his teeth and, hopefully, the chance to give him back the confidence to smile and laugh freely again. He gives so much to everyone around him. I would love for someone to give a little something back to him. ❤️ Please consider Quintin for a new smile. He deserves it more than words can say. 🥹❤️

Beste span. As ek terug kyk na fotos ,het ek altyd sommer oopbek ge skater lag.... op 57 is my lag al ń paar jaar gesteel. In 2020 het ek my een voortand ook verloor, en dra ń plaatjie, maar my mond lyk skeef as ek lag,... my byt is nie reg nie. Miskien is ek gelukkig en kan weer lag. Groete Nandi

I would like to nominate my brother, Greg, for dental assistance. A few months ago, Greg was involved in a horrific accident in which he saved a little girl’s life. In doing so, he took the heaviest impact himself, with the majority of his injuries being to his face. The accident left Greg with devastating injuries. He was scalped, suffered extensive facial trauma, and lost most of his teeth. He spent several months in and out of Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town undergoing facial reconstruction and treatment. It has been an incredibly long and difficult journey for him, both physically and emotionally. While so much work has gone into repairing the physical damage caused by the accident, there are some things that cannot simply be healed with time. Losing most of his teeth has affected not only his appearance, but also his confidence and his ability to feel like himself again. After everything he has been through, I would love to see something positive come from this journey for him. I truly believe that giving Greg back his smile would mean so much more than simply replacing his teeth. It would help restore some of the confidence, dignity and happiness that this accident took away from him. A new smile would not erase what happened, but I believe it could be a beautiful new chapter after an incredibly painful one. For this reason, I would be incredibly grateful if Greg could be considered for dental assistance. It would mean more to him and to our family than I could ever fully put into words.

In 2005, I was involved in a traumatic incident that resulted in the loss of my two front teeth. Despite undergoing root canal treatment and receiving two crowns, I have continued to experience problems over the years. Now, 21 years later, my crowns need to be replaced and the discolouration around my gums has made me increasingly self-conscious about my smile. As a single mom, the cost of replacing both crowns is unfortunately beyond what I can afford, and my medical aid does not cover the full treatment. I would be incredibly grateful for any support towards restoring my smile and giving me the confidence to smile freely again